FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION CONFIRMS PHASE 2 OF RUNWAY STATUS LIGHTS PROJECT AT LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today they are moving forward on the second phase of the Runway Status Lights (RWSL) project at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The RWSL system informs pilots of potential runway safety hazards and greatly reduces the possibility of runway incursions.
Construction is estimated to begin this September with an anticipated completion of May 2013. The FAA is funding and managing the installation of Phase 2 and will work closely with LAWA to minimize impacts to airport operations.
“I am pleased the FAA is supporting LAWA for Phase 2 of this program,” said LAWA Executive Director Gina Marie Lindsey. “This project means safer runways and peace of mind for our passengers and is an integral component of the modernization of LAX.”
“Ensuring the safety of our national aviation system is a top priority,” said Bill Withycombe, regional administrator for the FAA’s Western-Pacific Region. “The FAA looks forward to working with LAWA on the Runway Status Lights system to prevent runway incursions at LAX and to improve safety for the many air travelers who use this busy airport.”
Runway Status Lights (RWSL) use a series of red lights embedded in the pavement to indicate to pilots and airport vehicle operators when it is unsafe to cross or enter a runway, or to takeoff. Pilots approaching a runway equipped with RWSL will see red lights illuminated if the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower’s ground surveillance radar detects traffic on or approaching that runway. Clearance to cross or enter a runway must be given by air traffic control. Pilots must verify clearance before proceeding,
even after the warning lights are no longer illuminated.
A prototype system was installed in June 2009 at LAX at a cost of $7 million. The lights are installed on eight taxiways intersecting more than one runway. LAX is the first airport to have the lights installed on multiple runways. To learn more, visit the RWSL website at: http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/rwsl/ .
About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
LAX is the sixth busiest airport in the world and third in the United States, offering more than 600 daily flights to 91 domestic cities and more than 1,000 weekly nonstop flights to 56 cities in 32 countries on nearly 75 air carriers. It ranks 13th in the world in air cargo tonnage processed. In 2011, LAX served more than 61 million passengers, processed over 1.8 million tons of air cargo valued at nearly $80 billion, and handled 603,912 aircraft operations (landings and takeoffs). LAX is part of a system of three Southern California airports – along with LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the city’s general fund.
